ArduCAM-M-2MP Camera Shield

2MP SPI Camera User Guide

Rev 1.1, Mar 2015
 ArduCAM-M-2MP Camera User Guide

Table of Contents
1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 2
2 Application............................................................................................................................... 2
3 Features .................................................................................................................................... 3
4 Key Specifications ................................................................................................................... 3
5 Pin Definition ........................................................................................................................... 3
6 Block Diagram ......................................................................................................................... 4
7 Functions .................................................................................................................................. 4
7.1 Single Capture Mode .......................................................................................................... 4
7.2 Multiple Capture Mode ...................................................................................................... 4
7.3 JPEG Compression ............................................................................................................. 4
7.4 Normal Read and Burst Read Operation ......................................................................... 4
7.5 Rewind Read Operation ..................................................................................................... 5
7.6 Low Power Mode................................................................................................................. 5
7.7 Image Sensor Control ......................................................................................................... 5
8 Lens Options ............................................................................................................................ 6
9 Mechanical Dimension ............................................................................................................ 7
10 Order Information .............................................................................................................. 7

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 ArduCAM-M-2MP Camera User Guide

1 Introduction
ArduCAM-M-2MP is optimized version of ArduCAM shield Rev.C, and is a high definition
2MP SPI camera, which reduce the complexity of the camera control interface. It integrates 2MP
CMOS image sensor OV2640, and provides miniature size, as well as the easy to use hardware
interface and open source code library. The ArduCAM mini can be used in any platforms like
Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Maple, Chipkit, Beaglebone black, as long as they have SPI and I2C
interface and can be well mated with standard Arduino boards. ArduCAM mini not only offers the
capability to add a camera interface which doesnt have in some low cost microcontrollers, but
also provides the capability to add multiple cameras to a single microcontroller.

Figure 1 ArduCAM Mini Shield

2 Application
IoT cameras
Robot cameras
Wildlife cameras
Other battery-powered products
Can be used in MCU, Raspberry Pi, ARM, DSP, FPGA platforms

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 ArduCAM-M-2MP Camera User Guide

3 Features
2MP image sensor OV2640
M12 mount or CS mount lens holder with changeable lens options
IR sensitive with proper lens combination
I2C interface for the sensor configuration
SPI interface for camera commands and data stream
All IO ports are 5V/3.3V tolerant
Support JPEG compression mode, single and multiple shoot mode, one time capture multiple
read operation, burst read operation, low power mode and etc.
Well mated with standard Arduino boards
Provide open source code library for Arduino, STM32, Chipkit, Raspberry Pi, BeagleBone
Black
Small form of factor

4 Key Specifications
Power supply Active array size: 1600x1200
Normal :5V/70mA Shutter: rolling shutter
Low power mode: 5V/20mA Lens: 1/4 inch
SPI speed: 8MHz Resolution support:
Frame buffer: 384KB UXGA, SVGA,VGA,QVGA,CIF,QCIF
Size: 34 x 24 mm Format support: RAW, YUV, RGB, JPEG
Weight: 20g Pixel Size: 2.2m x 2.2m
Temperature: -10+55

5 Pin Definition
Table 1 ArduCAM-M-2MP Pin Definition
Pin No. PIN NAME TYPE DESCRIPTION
1 CS Input SPI slave chip select input
2 MOSI Input SPI master output slave input
3 MISO Output SPI master input slave output
4 SCLK Input SPI serial clock
5 GND Ground Power ground
6 +5V POWER 3.3V ~ 5V Power supply
7 SDA Bi-directional Two-Wire Serial Interface Data I/O
8 SCL Input Two-Wire Serial Interface Clock

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 ArduCAM-M-2MP Camera User Guide

6 Block Diagram
Figure 2 shows the block diagram of ArduCAM mini shield which is composed by lens,
image sensor and an ArduChip. The lens is changeable and can be mounted by S-mount (M12x0.5)
or CS-mount lens holder. The image sensor is 2MP CMOS OV2640 from Omnivision. The
ArduChip uses ArduCAM proprietary third generation camera controller technology which
handles the complex camera, memory and user interface hardware timing and provides a user
friendly SPI interface.

Figure 2 ArduCAM Mini Shield Block Diagram

7 Functions
7.1 Single Capture Mode
Single capture mode is the default capture mode of the camera. After issuing a capture
command via SPI port, the ArduCAM will wait for a new frame and buffer the one entire image
data to the frame buffer, and then assert the completion flag bit in the register. User only needs to
poll the flag bit from the register to check out if the capture is done.
7.2 Multiple Capture Mode
Multiple capture mode is advanced capture mode. By setting the number of frames in the
capture register, the ArduCAM will capture consequent frames after issuing capture command.
Note that number of frames should be set properly and make sure do not exceed the maximum
memory space.
7.3 JPEG Compression
The JPEG compression function is implemented in the image sensor. With proper register
settings to the sensor, user can get different resolution with JPEG image stream output. It is
recommended to use JPEG output to get higher resolution than RGB mode, due to the limitation
of frame buffer.
7.4 Normal Read and Burst Read Operation
Normal read operation reads each image data by sending a read command in one SPI read
operation cycle. While burst read operation only need to send a read command then read multiple
image data in one SPI read operation cycle. It is recommended to use burst read operation to get
better throughput performance.

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 ArduCAM-M-2MP Camera User Guide

7.5 Rewind Read Operation

Sometimes user wants to read the same frame of image data multiple times for processing,
the rewind read operation is designed for this purpose. By resetting the read pointer to the
beginning of the image data, user can read the same image data from the start point again.
7.6 Low Power Mode
Some battery power device need save power when in the idle status, the ArduCAM offers the
low power mode to reduce power consumption, by shutdown the sensor and memory circuits.
7.7 Image Sensor Control
Image sensor control function is implemented in the image sensor. By setting proper set of
register settings, user can control the exposure, white balance, brightness, contrast, color
saturation and etc.
More technical information about ArduCAM mini shield, please read ArduCAM-M-2MP
Hardware Application Note.pdf and ArduCAM-M-2MP Software Application Note.pdf for detail.

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 ArduCAM-M-2MP Camera User Guide

8 Lens Options
The ArduCAM-M-2MP camera shield is shipped with default LS-4011 (S mount) or
LS-6018 (CS mount), lenses specification list as follows. S mount lenses normally have build IR
cut filter, while the CS mount lenses doesnt have build in IR cut filter.
Please contact us admin@arducam.com for more lens options.
LS-4011 Lens Specification

Figure 3 S Mount Lens Specification

LS-6018 Lens Specification

Figure 4 CS Mount Lens Specification

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9 Mechanical Dimension

10 Order Information
Part Number Description
ArduCAM-M-2MP-SM01 S Mount Preinstalled Pin Header
ArduCAM-M-2MP-SM02 S Mount Without Preinstalled Pin Header
ArduCAM-M-2MP-CSM01 CS Mount Preinstalled Pin Header
ArduCAM-M-2MP-CSM02 CS Mount Without Preinstalled Pin Header

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